Since the early days of cinema, movies have always featured automobiles. As the cars got cooler, they became as big of stars as their human counterparts. Just as actors have their own strong suits, like suspense, drama, or action, cars have been typecast. Goofy rides fill the comedic roles, while fast cars land the chase scene parts, and the A-list action stars are exotics and supercars.

A list of the best exotics could easily be filled entirely by the 2014 film, Need for Speed, and while it is represented, we’re striving for diversity. It’s also tempting to fill every entry with a killer ride from the Fast & Furious franchise, but again, this is about inclusion. As for James Bond, 007 gets plenty of love, but his signature Aston Martins are noticeably absent. There is no concrete definition for an exotic car, but the general consensus is it’s a supercar, and Aston Martins doesn’t seem to fit in that category.

The only two criteria for making this list are that the car is amazing, and it played an important role in an equally amazing film. Some consider the DeLorean from Back to the Future to be exotic, and while the movie is great, the car is tragically underpowered. With the rules of the road and the reel set, here are the greatest exotics to ever appear in a movie.

RELATED: 10 Iconic Car Chase Scenes Featured In Movies

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Automobile Catalog, Fastest Laps, and Road and Track. The cars have been ranked in chronological order of their film appearances.

10 Lotus Esprit

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

There were two Esprit cars in For Your Eyes Only, including one that exploded, but the money Lotus appeared in The Spy Who Loved Me. 007 movies are famous for gorgeous Bond Girls, cool gadgets, and hot rides. In the 1977 film, all three were combined in Bond’s white Lotus Esprit that fired missiles, turned into a submarine, and had Barbara Bach as a co-pilot.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)

The Spy Who Loved Me is the film in which Roger Moore proved he was a worthy successor to Sean Connery, and also when the Lotus eclipsed Goldfingers’s Aston Martin DB5 as the coolest gadget-equipped 007 ride. Billionaire Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, bought the submarine version of the Lotus used in the film and was disappointed to learn it wasn’t an actual deep-sea diver.

• Six Esprits were used in the filming, but only one of them was actually operational
• The only driving Lotus in the film was loaned by Lotus Chairman Colin Chapman

9 Lamborghini Countach LP5000S

Cannonball Run (1981)

The 1981 comedy, Cannonball Run, based on a real-life underground cross-country race, featured some cool rides like a Ferrari 308 GTS, Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna, and Roger Moore’s character driving an Aston Martin DB5. In a departure from his Smokey and the Bandit days, however, Burt Reynolds’ character had the whiniest ride in the film, with a Dodge Tradesman ambulance.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)

The Lamborghini Countach LP5000S driven by characters portrayed by Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman, on the other hand,
was easily the most killer ride in the race. In his U.S. debut, Jackie Chan piloted a rocket-powered Subaru GL 4WD.

• Rat Pack members, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. drove the Ferrari in the film
• In his U.S. film debut, Jackie Chan piloted a rocket-powered Subaru GL 4WD

8 Ferrari 308GTSi

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

The Ferrari 308GTSi was already a hot car, but it got downright sizzling in National Lampoon’s Vacation, with Christie Brinkley behind the wheel. In a hilarious subplot, the supermodel tormented Clark Griswald, played by Chevy Chase, for most of the movie by flirting with him, which made him do increasingly stupid things.

Performance Specifications

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(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)

Brinkley, whose character in the film was named simply “The Girl in the Red Ferrari,” first caught Clark’s attention on the freeway in the 308GTSi, with a license plate that read “Love Me.” Distracted by her winks and blown kisses, at various points in the movie Clark almost hit a semi head-on, ate a sandwich drenched in dog urine, and ended up naked in a motel swimming pool.

• 1743 GTSis were made before being replaced by Magnum PI’s 308 Quattrovalvole in 1982
• In the 2015 sequel, Vacation, swimsuit model, Hannah Jeter, drives a 308 Quattrovalvole

RELATED: 10 Best Convertibles Ever Made

7 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

In the movie, the Ferrari is a character Cameron’s father’s prized possession, that gets “borrowed” for a day-long joyride and eventually ends up destroyed. Since real 1961 Ferrari 250 GTs go for $18 million and up, it made sense that the studio used fiberglass replicas. The film was made for a modest $5 million and ended up destroying two “Ferraris” which, if were real, would have erased the profit margin for the mild 80s hit.

• Cameron wears a Gordie Howe Redwings jersey, despite being in the heart of Chicago Blackhawks country
• The replica cars had Ford 302ci V-8s under their hoods

6 Koenigsegg CCXR Special Edition

Fast Five (2011)

The Koenigsegg CCX, which stands for Competition Coupé X, was a Swedish supercar produced from 2006 to 2010. The CCXR was a variant designed to run on biofuel and the CCXR Special Edition had a more powerful engine.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Automobile Catalog)

Characters Roman and Tej have a friendly rivalry throughout the Fast & Furious films, and the fifth installment, involved Swedish supercars. Roman was bragging about his CCXR Special Edition, claiming it was one of only four in the world and the only one in the Western Hemisphere. Then Tej rolls out his Koenigsegg and corrects Roman that there are two in the Western Hemisphere. In reality, Tej’s car is a regular CCXR, so neither character’s numbers were correct.

• Koenigsegg CCXR cars sell for between $2.5 million and $4.8 million
• The Koenigsegg CCXR is one of the few cars not destroyed in the Fast & Furious franchise

5 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Need for Speed (2014)

Need for Speed has a 23 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes with most reviewers complaining that the story was thin. The 2014 film was based on the popular video game franchise of the same name and starred Aaron Paul driving some truly amazing cars. It hit on all cylinders with thrilling race sequences, featuring killer exotics, and didn’t need a nuanced Shakespearean plot.

Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Bugatti)

The movie is about a guy who enters an underground winner-take-all race to avenge the death of his friend, and that’s all the framework needed to showcase some spectacular exotics. As was mentioned in the opening, Need for Speed features a great number of impressive cars, including a Koenigsegg Agera R​​​​​​​ and a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, but since those brands already have enough love on this list, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport takes this spot.

• There are 25 installments in the Need for Speed video game franchise
• The Need for Speed video games have sold over 150 million copies

RELATED: Top 10 Vehicular Combat Video Games, Ranked​​​​​​​

4 Jaguar C-X75

Spectre (2015)

James Bond films use words like “gold” and “die” in their titles or have nonsense names like You Only Live Twice. Spectre, the 2015 entry of the franchise, was the most un-007 named film in the series Automobilesbeginningcarscinemacoolerfeaturedfrommoviestheyvery

Volkswagen

Volkswagen electrifies the Vatican’s vehicle fleet

November 16, 2023 Prafful Singh

Volkswagen is assisting the Vatican City State in its shift toward sustainable mobility. Starting in 2024, the company will supply nearly 40 fully electric models from its ID. series, including the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5. These vehicles are part of the Vatican’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality for its fleet by 2030. Imelda Labbé, a member of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars board, and Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, personally delivered the first two electric vehicles, ID.3 Pro Performance models, to the Vatican.

The Vatican City State is committed to implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of human activities and protect the planet. Central to this effort is the “Ecological Conversion 2030” program, which aims to decrease the CO₂ footprint of the state’s vehicle fleet. To achieve this, the Vatican plans to gradually replace its current vehicles with electric ones, ultimately reaching a CO₂-neutral fleet by 2030.

Volkswagen has been selected as the partner for this project and will provide the Vatican State with a fleet starting in 2024 through Volkswagen Financial Services. Subsequently, additional zero-emission vehicles from Volkswagen Group brands will be progressively introduced, leading to a complete fleet replacement by 2030.

Imelda Labbé stated during the vehicle handover in Vatican City: “The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe. The fact that Vatican employees will now also drive our ID. models in the future is a great honor for our brand and highlights the appeal of our all-electric ID. models.”

Dr. Christian Dahlheim added, “We are pleased to support the Vatican in this important project. This is a unique opportunity for us and demonstrates our competitiveness in providing mobility solutions.”

Information for editors:
Volkswagen Financial Services is a division of the Volkswagen AG group and includes Volkswagen Financial Services AG, Volkswagen Bank GmbH, Porsche Financial Services, and financial service companies in the USA and Canada under the Volkswagen AG umbrella, with the exception of the Scania brand and Porsche Holding Salzburg. These businesses cover dealer and customer financing, leasing, banking, insurance activities, fleet management, and mobility services. Volkswagen Financial Services employ approximately 17,713 people globally, with 7,692 in Germany alone. They report total assets of around EUR 240 billion, an operating profit of EUR 5.60 billion, and a portfolio of around 22.0 million current contracts (as at 31.12.2022).

More information at www.vwfs.com

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand operates in over 140 markets and manufactures vehicles at 29 locations in twelve countries. In 2022, Volkswagen delivered approximately 4.6 million vehicles, including popular models like the Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Golf, Tiguan, Passat, and the all-electric models ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.6. Last year, the company supplied over 330,000 all-electric vehicles to customers worldwide. Volkswagen employs around 170,000 people globally, and with its ACCELERATE strategy, it aims to become the most sought-after brand for sustainable mobility.

Motorsport

Camouflaged Lamborghini Huracan Replacement Doesn’t Sound Like It Has A V10

November 15, 2023 Prafful Singh

In today’s era of electric-powered and smaller engines, Lamborghini’s V10 is starting to appear outdated from a regulatory perspective. The natural 5.2-liter engine is set to phase out next year when the final Huracan is produced. What will take its place? A listen to what appears to be a smaller gasoline engine intended for the upcoming “entry-level” supercar may hold the answer.

This lengthy spy video takes us around the streets of Italy, showcasing numerous supercars and SUVs adorned with the raging bull emblem. Some of the footage was captured right outside the factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese. The 19-minute clip gives us a close look at the Huracan’s successor, clad in full camouflage and sporting some Gallardo-like stickers covering the headlights and taillights.

Motorsport

Four Mercedes-AMG One Hypercars Seen Testing Together

September 23, 2023 Prafful Singh

Mercedes recently started delivering the AMG One hypercar, but it seems that testing of prototypes is still underway. A total of four prototypes were spotted at a rest stop in Granada, Spain, accompanied by a GT 4-Door Coupe in the 63 S variant from Affalterbach. This sighting is special because the F1-engined hypercar will be a rare sight, with only 275 customer cars being produced.

It is unclear what Mercedes was testing, considering that production of the One began over a year ago. The possibility of a successor hypercar has already been ruled out due to the challenges of meeting emissions regulations. With the Euro 7 standard coming in 2025 and the increased stringency of emissions regulations, it is unlikely that another F1-inspired car for the road will be developed. However, the hybrid technology developed for the AMG One could potentially be utilized in future performance models from AMG, even though the 1.6-liter V6 engine might not be used again in a street-legal car.

News

New 2024 Alfa Romeo small SUV shown in leaked images

September 12, 2023 David

Leaked images of Alfa Romeo’s upcoming small electric SUV have surfaced, giving us a glimpse into the new entry-level model from the Italian brand. Set to be launched in early 2024, this SUV will take the place of the Mito supermini in their lineup.

Originally known as the Brennero, the small SUV will now be given a different name when it hits showrooms. It will sit below the Tonale crossover and will be built on the e-CMP platform, which is also used by the Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger.

Alfa Romeo has not made any official comments on the leaked images, which first appeared on Instagram and are now circulating widely.

The new electric SUV is expected to measure around 4.1 meters in length and 1.8 meters in width. It will be the smallest Alfa Romeo since the Mito was discontinued in 2019. The company has suggested that it will remain as the smallest car in their lineup due to the declining demand for upmarket superminis.

According to Daniel Guzzafame, the head of products at Alfa Romeo, the new B-segment SUV will indirectly replace the Mito. He stated, “The Mito will not be replaced as it was, but it will for sure be indirectly replaced by the B-segment SUV. The premium B-segment doesn’t exist, and around the world, we need to fill it. With an infinite amount of money, resources, time? Fantastic, I’ll do everything. But without that, I need to rationalise; I need to pick the segments that are actually relevant for the base customers in the premium segments. We considered a lot. We needed to decide whether to go two doors, four doors, so we made a decision, and the Mito will not be replaced as it was. But we will see. All of the world is evolving, small cars are becoming more important again.”

Priced at around £35,000, the new small Alfa Romeo SUV will be targeted towards new customers, including families and females. The brand aims to move away from being seen as a solely “sporty brand” favored by middle-aged men.

BMW

THE NEUE NEW: BMW accompanies the departure into a new era with an emotionally engaging multi-channel campaign.

September 9, 2023 Prafful Singh

Munich. The world premiere of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse marks a new beginning for the BMW brand, one characterised by a completely fresh way of thinking and approach. THE NEUE NEW is the title of the multi-channel campaign accompanying the Bavarian premium carmaker’s ongoing process of transformation. The campaign’s storytelling captures the central areas of action contained within this transformation and brings an unusual angle to the idea of “the new”.

The campaign THE NEUE NEW – developed and implemented by the agency THE GAME created specially for the BMW Group and the BMW brand – explains in an authentic and accessible way what underpins the “NEU” of the forthcoming NEUE KLASSE. The use of the German word for “new” references the name of this new-generation model series and has an effective and memorable impact in non-German-speaking markets around the world as well as at home. At the same time, the campaign shines the spotlight on the brand promise “Freude forever.” and opens a window to BMW as a future-facing brand focused on meeting peoples’ needs.

“THE NEUE NEW represents our journey into a completely new era of mobility, in which we are putting people front and centre. And its visual implementation is likewise very authentic, accessible and human,” says Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer and BMW Brand. “The campaign provides an initial example of how we are also employing innovative communication approaches to drive forward the transformation process BMW is currently navigating.”

THE NEUE NEW tells the story of the transformation alongside the key future-focused fields the BMW Group has set itself: the ideal of a circular economy as a progressive mindset geared towards preserving resources; digitalisation focused on identifying and meeting peoples’ needs; and a commitment to electrification with the aim of making the driving pleasure for which the brand is renowned something future generations can also experience.

As a central hub in which these three elements converge, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse embodies a fresh departure fuelled by optimism for the future. Recalling the “mk1” Neue Klasse, which revolutionised the brand’s product range in the 1960s, the storytelling approach is deliberately playing on the German “Neue” in non-German-speaking markets as well as at home and, in so doing, redefining the idea of “the new” itself.

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse shows us here and now how Sheer Driving Pleasure will be interpreted in the years ahead. At its heart is the design language of “intelligent reduction to the essentials”. Meanwhile, the latest generation of BMW iDrive delivers a digital, immersive user experience in which the driver takes centre stage. Every aspect of the development process took sustainability and efficiency as the guiding themes.

THE NEUE NEW: 360-degree campaign follows a “social first” approach.

The campaign strategically orchestrated by THE GAME feeds all the main touchpoints of the various target groups. Alongside various influencer collaborations, the campaign focuses primarily on the brand’s social media channels. A filter for Instagram and Snapchat developed specially for the campaign also allows the BMW Vision Neue Klasse to inspire its audience within an augmented reality experience.

The 360-degree approach of THE NEUE NEW allows it to make a mark with out-of-home activities and double-page spreads in print media, too. The campaign is supported by other measures on BMW channels such as the My BMW App, the brand’s homepage and FREUDE.FOREVER magazine. THE MARCOM ENGINE was responsible for the media planning across all channels and touchpoints.

During the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, the campaign also becomes a physical experience. The concept behind the show stand for the BMW Group’s Open Space at Max-Joseph-Platz was the work of creative consultancy Meiré and Meiré. The installation for the BMW Vision Neue Klasse followed THE NEUE NEW campaign approach and was accompanied by communications input from Cologne-based creative agency Elastique, and the key opinion leader & talent agency Pacific took care of the on-site support programme.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1LTr6frDS4

Motorsport

2025 BMW X3 Spotted with Production Lights Under Camouflage

September 8, 2023 Prafful Singh

Although it’s only the beginning of September, the current BMW X3 entered the 2024 model year a few weeks ago. This means that the next-generation luxury crossover will be available in the United States as a 2025 model. However, there are still some final tests that need to be completed. Our spies had the opportunity to closely analyze two prototypes, both of which had less camouflage than previous sightings, revealing the production body.

It’s important to note that the two test vehicles were equipped with combustion engines, as the future iX3 will have a substantially different appearance. The iX3 will switch to the Neue Klasse platform, as mentioned here. Currently, the electric crossover shares the same design as the conventionally powered X3, using the CLAR platform. However, this will change in 2025 with the introduction of a dedicated electric architecture.

Motorsport

Mercedes-AMG CEO confirms the V8 engine is not returning in the C63 and E63

August 24, 2023 Prafful Singh

Earlier this month, there were rumors suggesting that the V8 engine would make a comeback in the C63 and E63 models. However, these rumors have been denied by an AMG engineer, calling them “pure nonsense.” Unfortunately, it has now been confirmed by the AMG CEO, Michael Schiebe, that the V8 engine will not be returning.

In an interview during the Monterey Car Week, Schiebe definitively denied the rumors and stated that the decision to downsize and electrify the engines was the right move. He mentioned that other competitors are also introducing sporty hybrid models with smaller engines, making this a strategic decision for AMG.

Motorsport

2024 Ford Mustang Buyers Showing Preference for V8 Engine, with 67% Choosing the Coyote

August 16, 2023 Prafful Singh

According to The Detroit News, Ford has already received approximately 13,000 orders for the 2024 Mustang ahead of its upcoming shipments next week. In anticipation of sending out the first batch, the automaker has provided some insight into customer preferences.

Currently, 67% of the orders are for the V8 engine, while the remaining third are for the turbocharged four-cylinder option. Additionally, a Ford spokesperson informed Motor1.com that 27% of the shipments include the Mustang GT and Dark Horse versions and are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

Motorsport

In June, Electric Vehicles Outsold Diesel Cars in Europe for the First Time

July 25, 2023 Prafful Singh

The diesel engine has been facing a decline in Europe ever since the scandal at the VW Group, and stricter emissions regulations are further contributing to its downfall. As a result, many automakers have stopped offering diesel engines in smaller cars. The latest sales numbers from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association confirm that the demand for diesel cars is on a downward trend.

Last month, in European Union countries, the market share for diesel cars decreased to 13.4 percent, down from 17.4 percent in June 2022. This decline in demand allowed electric vehicles to surpass diesel cars for the first time ever. Zero-emission cars accounted for 15.1 percent of the total market share, up from 10.7 percent in June 2022. Self-charging hybrids were also more popular than diesel cars, with a market share of 24.3 percent, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles represented 7.9 percent of total demand, slightly down from 8.2 percent in June 2022.

Gasoline cars continue to dominate the market, accounting for more than a third of all sales at 36.3 percent. This translates to 379,067 cars, which is an 11 percent increase compared to June 2022. However, despite the increase in sales numbers, the market share for gasoline cars actually decreased from 38.5 percent to 36.3 percent due to the rise in popularity of electric vehicles.

Although diesel cars are losing favor in the European Union, there has been a significant boost in sales of diesel cars in Germany and Central European markets, with a 10.3 percent increase. In June 2023, Romania experienced the highest growth in diesel car sales compared to the same month last year, with a remarkable increase of 22.4 percent.

Overall, new car sales (across all powertrain types) in the EU increased by 17.9 percent during the first six months of 2023, reaching 5.4 million vehicles. However, this is still 21 percent lower compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association highlights that supply chain disruptions are becoming less of an issue, although some models still have long wait times.

With the implementation of Euro 7 regulations in 2025, it is expected that automakers will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, leading to a decrease in the availability of traditional internal combustion engine cars. The VW Group has already warned that B-segment cars may be at risk, as the stricter legislation may make it too expensive to adapt their engines to comply.

Starting from 2035, automakers operating in the EU will no longer be permitted to sell new cars that emit harmful emissions.